Lucknow: A rare decision by the Uttar Pradesh government second one year extension Bureaucrats in Delhi and Lucknow told ThePrint that Chief Secretary DS Mishra, who is considered the head of the Modi government in Lucknow, signals a change in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s approach.
Ahead of Global Investors Summit 2023 (GIS-2023) in Uttar Pradesh februaryThe CM didn’t want to send any wrong signals by letting go of the “centre man” in Lucknow, considered crucial to Yogi’s $1 trillion economy goal, ThePrint has learned,
A senior bureaucrat in Lucknow told ThePrint that the Yogi government had sent two names- Including Mishra – for the consideration of the Modi government. The central government approved Mishra’s extension on Friday – a day before his previous extension was to expire.
Bureaucrats consider it a rare and “one of its kind” case that a chief secretary has been given two extensions – that too for a year.
in December 2021The Narendra Modi government’s sudden decision to send the then Union Housing Secretary Mishra back to his home cadre “for his proposed appointment as Chief Secretary of (UP)” has sent shockwaves in political and bureaucratic circles. Was. The move was seen as an attempt by the Modi government to impose its point person at the helm of the administration in UP. It was also seen as an attempt by the central government to clamp down on the UP government.
Then CS RK Tiwari, who was close to the CM, did two years Left but Yogi had to accept the choice of Modi government then.
Mishra’s tenure as CS has been largely uneventful as the CM chose to function through a coterie of bureaucrats close to him.
Bureaucrats in UP say that with decision-making centered on the CMO and the CM getting things done through his trusted bureaucrats, the CS office in Lucknow has been left to look after routine administrative jobs.
‘It doesn’t matter if he gets another extension,’ he said. The role of Cabinet Secretary in Delhi, CS also plays in Lucknow. Basically, it is about the PMO and the CMO,” a senior UP cadre bureaucrat told ThePrint. CM Yogi has shown political maturity by staying with Mishra. Contrary to Mishra’s perception of being the eyes and ears of the Modi government in Lucknow, he is happy to do whatever he is asked to do. He has given Yogi no reason to feel worried.
Prior to his repatriation, Mishra was the Secretary, Housing and Urban Affairs, in the Ministry of Urban Development – a position he held for over three years.
was also appointed as Chief Resident Commissioner of UP earlier this year.
Mishra shared the news of this its expansion The Department of Personnel and Training told ThePrint on Twitter on Saturday that the order came on Friday evening.
“My priority will be for the implementation of welfare schemes on the ground, following the PM’s vision to ensure all-round development of the state and ensure the welfare of the people,” he added.
The development also comes at a time when the extension given to a bureaucrat in Manipur, another BJP-ruled state, has come under scrutiny. six months Detailed Opposition Congress has criticized Manipur Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar for being given a second term.
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‘Unusually long, unheard of’
Former bureaucrats ThePrint spoke to called the development “unprecedented” and “abnormally long”, especially in light of the All India Service rules.
Rule No. 16(1) According to the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, “A member of the Service holding the post of Chief Secretary to a State Government may be granted extension of service for a period not exceeding six months. Central Govt. recommendations made by the State Government with full justification and in the public interest relating to the prior approval of the
Former bureaucrat EAS Sarma told ThePrint that although extensions are “not good in principle”, they are usually given for short periods – six months to a year.
“In many cases one year extension has been given, but I don’t think it has ever been given for two years. Two years is too long,” Sarma, a former secretary Finance Ministry told ThePrint,
He said the idea behind the six-month rule is to avoid long extensions.
“What the government does is they give multiple six-month extensions to overcome the rule. See the post of Chief of Enforcement Directorate. This is a very sensitive post but they are giving extensions like this.
Jawahar Sarkar, a retired IAS officer who served as chief executive officer of India’s state broadcaster Prasar Bharati, told ThePrint that giving Mishra a second one-year extension was not against service rules, but could lead to “termination” . All India Civil Services.
“The services follow a very strict communication system so that there is no vested interest other than the short tenure of an officer. Usually, governments ensure that bureaucrats do not get too long a tenure,” Sircar, a Rajya Sabha MP from the Trinamool Congress, told ThePrint.
He said the latest developments exposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “nervousness” and showed that he “goes only for those he knows”.
“Secondly, it discourages services as the queue (of officers) stops there,” he added.
A UP government official also told ThePrint that Mishra’s extension was “a unique example of its kind in the history of Indian bureaucracy”.
The officer said, ‘As far as I remember, this has never happened before.’
‘Stamp of PMO’
During his tenure in the central government, Mishra has overseen several flagship schemes of the Modi government including the ambitious and controversial Central Vista Redevelopment Project.
among many major projects Along with the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Smart Cities Mission implemented during Mishra’s tenure, metro rail systems were launched in several Indian cities including Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Kanpur.
Mishra’s extension as chief secretary comes at a crucial time for Uttar Pradesh – the state is not only gearing up for an investor summit, but is also preparing to hold municipal elections early this year.
It is a little over a year away with the 2024 general elections.
Mishra met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday – soon after rumors of his extension spread. At that time the CMO had called it a ‘courtesy meeting’.
Another UP official told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that the Yogi government is increasingly accepting Mishra.
“His approval has increased recently, not only because he has the stamp of the PMO, but also because he is seen as a delivery-oriented person who has limited interference in the functioning of the CMO,” the official said. ” “Also, keeping GIS-2023 running smoothly is one of their main priorities right now.”
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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